Jenny Sanford: 'I Am Willing To Forgive Mark'

More news from the Sanford camp. Jenny Sanford, wife of the love sick Gov. has just broken silence, for the first time since Gov. Sanford's AP interview in which he disclosed multiple "line crossing" affairs with other women, and referred to his Argentinian mistress as his "soul mate." In it, she acknowledges that his actions were inexcusable, but says she is willing to forgive him.

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The full statement:

The last week has been very painful for me, my family and for the people of South Carolina. However, throughout this terrible ordeal, the incredible outpouring of kindness, support, and prayer I've received from countless friends and folks I have never even met has been truly uplifting. I appreciate that more than I can say. Please know that my sons and I are doing fine, given the circumstances. We are surrounded by friends and family, and we will make it through this. I believe it is how we respond to the challenges we face in life, and what we learn from them, that is most telling about who we truly are.

There is no question that Mark's behavior is inexcusable. Actions have consequences and he will be dealing with those consequences for a long while. Trust has been broken and will need to be rebuilt. Mark will need to earn back that trust, first and foremost with his family, and also with the people of South Carolina.

The real issue now is one of forgiveness. I am willing to forgive Mark for his actions. We have been deeply disappointed in and even angry at Mark. The Bible says, "In your anger do not sin." (Psalm 4:4) In this situation, this speaks to the essence of forgiveness and the critical need to channel one's energy into positive steps that uphold the dignity of marriage and the family, and lead to reconciliation over time. My forgiveness is essential for us both to move on with our lives, with peace, in whatever direction that may take us.

Desmond Tutu said "forgiveness is the grace by which you enable the other person to get up, and get up with dignity, to begin anew." Forgiveness opens the door for Mark to begin to work privately, humbly and respectfully toward reconciliation with me. However, to achieve true reconciliation will take time, involve repentance, and will not be easy.

Mark showed a lack of judgment in his recent actions as governor. However, his far more egregious offenses were committed against God, the institutions of marriage and family, our boys and me. Mark has stated that his intent and determination is to save our marriage, and to make amends to the people of South Carolina. I hope he can make good on those intentions, and for the sake of our boys I leave the door open to it. In that spirit of forgiveness, it is up to the people and elected officials of South Carolina to decide whether they will give Mark another chance as well.

Comments

[LoudmouthLime]

Why is Jenny willing to forgive Mark ? Does she need the money ? Does she need to save face ? Face ?
Sanford did a good job of rubbing his wife's in the dirt after the emails surfaced. Then he ground her face deeper when he confessed and cried.
Mark needs an antidote to his love sickness or at least, shut up about it and have at it. Affairs have been around longer than your hairstyle.
And Jenny be real.
Forgiveness with the goal of reconciliation might be more out of touch than your husband's mind, or your husband's touch for that matter.

[kjstjohn]

As a liberal female, my natural impulse would be to condemn the errant husband and support the wronged wife.

For reasons I cannot fully explain, I can't help but feel that Jenny Sanford is using scripture (among other things) to lure her husband back into a lifetime of certain and unmitigated misery.

Run for your life, Governor Sanford. Resign the governorship and run away from that marriage as though your life depended on it.

[KnowzyRowzy]

I agree....something tells me Jenny doesn't want the governor, she just doesn't want Maria to have him. I give it 6mos- one yr before Jenny kicks him to the curb, he won't have Maria or his marriage.

[VotingisReform]

Politics over personal pleasure. She was very instrumental in him getting into that office. And until the final gravel sounds, she is still First Lady of South Carolina. A southern woman will always stand behind her man in public (but not beside him, she will leave him to apologize on his own), However, in private, you might want to get the ear muffs. It is something you northerner and midwesterners will never understand about a southern woman.

[rosal]

These Stafford Wives! My neighbor, who is 82, told me she would send him to the cleaners, and would start a brand new and happy life. I think my neighbor has a lot of self-esteem.

[IllinoisTexan43]

My take is she might be gearing up for a run for office. She knows that her base will not vote for a divorced woman no matter how badly she was treated. Better to stay in a sham of a marriage: ala John and Cindy McCain in order to appeal to your base. And a sham it will be. That man's heart will never belong to her again and that's a sad situation.

[psbintl]

This woman is ambitious!It is very apparent she chose ambition over love.

However, I still put the blame on Mark. If he was no longer in love with his wife, then he should have divorced her, not cheated on her.

[GJKBEAR]

I agree that it is strange that she is willing to forgive him; but how does the fact that she is willing to forgive him mean that she is ambitious? Perhaps she, more than he took the marriage vow, to cleave only to him until death do us part seriously.

People do get past infedilities all the time in America and elsewhere. They forgive (which is not the same as forget) and they make the other person work at reconcilliation and rebuild trust and keep the marriage intact.

Why is it that when a woman doesn't divorce someone or kick them to the curb that immediately they have ulterior motives. If she had cheated on him and he didn't divorce her, would you say the same thing???

Perhaps she really loves him and she still believes that love can conquer all things, bear all things and she is willing to work on it. At any rate, that is their particular cross to bear and I have no part of it.

As for the State of SC? As far as I am concerned - when you leave your state ungoverned and leaderless for a week and no one knows where you are or how to get in touch with you - you don't get a second chance. The state of SC did not take a vow to honor, cherish ...but Mark Sanford did take a vow and he broke that one with his state and the people in it. He should

[psbintl]

He has blatantly stated he loves this other woman, going so far as to call her "his soulmate"! Why on earth would she want to stay with a man who clearly does not love her anymore, if not for ambitious reasons.

[gfields1911]

I see what the problem is...if you read her statement carefully, she sounds like a politicial. Can you stop being a polliticial and be just a wife, lover, a friend. You see that's what he found in his mistress, something Jenny stop being. I bet every decision she makes is base on politics. And there's no love in that type of decision making. The mistress probably gave him the opportunity to feel what it feels like to be in love again. That's why he called her his soulmate. People need to heed what's going on here. It's not good enough to just LOVE someone or be together for convience (SP???). But you have to be IN LOVE with that person. Jenny needs to find that love they once had or she will lose him forever. Society wants to blame him...but I blame them both. He will accept the blame for their marriage falling apart to be IN LOVE and with his SOULMATE. When you're in a battle of matters of the heart, it's a losing battle if you're not even on the same battle field. Mark my words Jenny.

[sparky09]

Jeez, she's sounding more & more like the biggest doormat in the world...Jenny, buy some self-respect & kick his lying, stealing, cheating a$$ to the curb...

[csula32001]

Jeez, can't mistresses nowadays pick better looking men? I know power and money is important, but so is being able to look at him the morning after! Mark Sanford = yuck!

[take10]

If she was no longer who he wanted 8 years ago, with additional wrinkles, brown spots and older, what makes her think he will digress and fall in love with her again? I think she just wants him to keep his job so she can remain the queen in the state house! At her age, having four little ones isn't going to make it very easy to find another mate who won't look elsewhere for that "soul mate." The bigger question is whether or not the people of N.C. are gullible enough to think that his desertion of his duties to them is nothing to worry about. Southern strategies are often confusing to the rest of us!

[ArthurTwoShedsJackson]

I hope the Sanford sons are able to avoid this far right Jeesus jingo family men tall illness and "escape from Jeesusland."

[kjstjohn]

In an area of the country where Jesus-talk provides a political and economic advantage to the Jesus-talker, it is not likely. And this is not men tall illnes$. It is crass opportunism.

[BushBites]

This is why he walks all over you, lady.

[CARTERJ]

To continue yesterday's poetry contest:


In South Carolina, Democracy
Is often confused with Theocracy.
So, Governor Sanford,
Go and boink whom you can. Word:
We are through with you and your hypocrisy.

[Bj Peak-Graham]

I feel badly for this woman and her children, even if her hope is unrealistic. She didn't fall out of love, so she is the victim here. And, he continues to victimize her. She has probably known for a very long time, but hope held her hostage. She has mad it clear she wants to try. But try what . . . keep the public personna of the marriage, put it back together with Elmers glue ? It is really time for this woman to phone Tyrone.

[wanked]

Then you deserve him. Shut up and go away .